The endometrium is the lining of the uterus that periodically thickens and sheds during a woman’s reproductive years. When menopause occurs, this cycle is ended and hormone changes ensue. Consequently, postmenopausal women are at greater risk for certain adverse health conditions, including endometrial neoplasms, which are the most common and most readily cured kind of uterine cancers.

Approximately 40,000 American women are diagnosed with endometrial cancer each year, and when caught early, the five-year survival rate for patients is greater than 90 percent. Adenocarcinomas, which originate in epithelial cells and exhibit gland-like characteristics, account for most cases of the disease.

The average age at diagnosis of endometrial cancer is about 60. In addition to age, however, there are a number of other risk factors that increase the likelihood that a woman will develop an adenocarcinoma or other cancer of the endometrium. Being 50 pounds or more overweight, beginning menstruation early or menopause late, never giving birth, various ovarian diseases, and infertility are all associated with an elevated risk of endometrial cancer. Notably, these risk factors all share something in common—they are associated with increased exposure to estrogen. A steroid hormone, estrogen is known to facilitate the growth of endometrial cells, whereas the hormone progesterone impedes it.

The excellent prognosis enjoyed by many patients with endometrial cancer is closely linked to the ability to diagnose the disease before it has advanced very far in its development. Abnormal vaginal bleeding or other discharges are early signs of endometrial cancer and often motivate women to quickly seek medical attention. Other symptoms that may develop, however, are pelvic pain, a palpable mass, and unexplained weight loss. When endometrial cancer is suspected, a biopsy or a procedure known as dilation and curettage, in which tissue is scraped from inside the uterus, is generally carried out in order to ascertain whether abnormal cells are present.

Treatment for adenocarcinoma of the endometrium typically involves surgery. In some instances, the removal of the cervix and uterus through a simple hysterectomy is considered sufficient, but in others a radical hysterectomy, which entails significantly more extensive tissue removal, may be required. Fallopian tubes, ovaries, and lymph nodes are sometimes surgically removed as well. External and internal radiation therapies are other treatment options and can be used in conjunction with surgical methods. Chemotherapy is usually reserved for patients with metastases, and hormone therapy is generally useful only for those whose tumor cells exhibit progesterone receptors.

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma at 10x Magnification - A number of forms of analysis, including blood tests, proctoscopy, cystoscopy, computed tomography (CT) scans, x-rays, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be utilized to determine the extent of endometrial cancer once it is diagnosed.

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma at 40x Magnification - Evidence suggests that there may be a genetic factor that predisposes some individuals for developing endometrial cancer. In the United States, Caucasian women are 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than African-American women.

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma at 10x Magnification - Certain inherited diseases have been linked to endometrial cancer. For instance, hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer syndrome carries not only a very high risk of colon cancer, but also an increased risk of endometrial, ovarian, urinary tract, and other cancers.